though this is not the most accurate thread for this, it's where I was! I had encountered the posts on old Ascent issues, and wanted to offer my efforts at recirculating climbing literature of the past. I've put in substantial time over the years archiving Climbing, Climb, Ascent, R&I, etc. and would be happy to share these in whatever form! I'll be traveling to Modesto in the next month, and could scan and send then. Let me know what would be of interest!

Do you have "Cutting Canadian Capers", from Summit magazine of the 1960s? That is a cool article; maybe hard to find, though. Steve Grossman seems to have a good collection of Summits, so he may have it.

BTW, Bad Climber, I can say with complete and total assurance that the last thing Royal (my father) has is a "monster ego". Perhaps you have misread or mistook information about him... ? though not a climber myself, I do have a bit of insight into the nature of the beast - and feel safe saying that generally climbers (especially the most renowned) LACK a monster ego. When Dad, et al were excelling at climbing, it was far from a coveted "profession" - not much in the way of fame and fortune to be sought there! Regardless, I look forward to hearing your reaction to "To Be Brave", and hope you enjoy the read!

I don't know exactly what's in the archives from here (Moab) - but will check for that when I'm at the homestead in a few weeks. I can say with certainty that the collection of Summit issues is extensive!

Tamara et al: I look forward to reading the book. As I said, I really enjoyed the Rock Craft effort and expect this to be even better given his greater perspective on everything with the passage of years.

Re. ego: I think going up to chop Wall of the Early Morning Light speaks for itself. His encounters with Batso are infamous. Still, I hold no personal ill will against him. He has always been a climbing hero of mine--as was Batso! :) This book will certainly be part of my library.

If I recall correctly, RR told me that he used to jump trains hobo-style as a kid. He told me that he once tried to jump from one train on to a train going in the opposite direction, in his words "an intelligence test that I failed." I don't know if those stories are in any other collection of his work. He told me the stories after a slideshow years ago. Maybe some of those train-jumpin stories are in the book?

I would love to read a "single volume" autobiography of RR"s life. He was an amazing climber who blazed a trail still being followed by contemporary climbers. But let's put things in perspective, Royal's major contributions to climbing covered a decade and a half. I haven't seen any biographies of Einstein, Ghandi or Churchill that spanned six volumes.

Thank you Tamara for your unexpected contributions here. How fun it is to hear from Royal and Lizís first child. I was with your father quite a bit before, during and just after you were born...much to say there. What was it, 1971? It was a huge moment for him and it took him many months to get ready for you, their first birth.

Everyone else, just wait for the book. They have published this themselves of course, so keep that in mind. There will be plenty to talk about when we can all read it. There will be more there than you anticipate. He is going to try to interpret what he has lived through.

I am sure he has done a good job. He may attempt to rewrite some history; he may not. That would be tempting.

The guy could be the best friend you could ever hope for; he also could be a wretch----even Ament has indicated this a few times in his biography. The main thing was he always was trying to figure everything out anew and it wasnít easy back then. I am also very grateful he came to the John Bachar memorial.

When I first started climbing around in Yosemite I always wanted those blue Royal Robbins boots made by Galibier after only having Sears work boots as climbing shoes.

Anyways one summer in Tuolumne everyone I saw wearing a pair of those blue boots I would first think it was Royal.

Never did see him.

Until one day that summer I was hitchhiking some where, forgot where, and a VW bus stopped and the guy said get in.

It was your dad ......

Bridwell told me how Royal eliminated bolts by lowering off a ledge because the pins were in the bottom back and you couldn't haul standing up. I thought that was so stupid and so cool at the same time that I employed this method on a new route myself once.

I wouldn't care to much about what others think about your dad if I were you. He's your dad and that's all that matters.

I was living with your mom and dad in Modesto when you were born. Royal was off on a "work" trip to Europe and I was the defacto dad while LIz adjusted to being a new momma.

Good on you, stick up for the OL' Boy. You have two very creative and powerful parents and irrespective of the climbing parameters, you were fortunate to be raised by the likes of Royal and Lizard. We could all be so lucky?

As far as the Wall of the Early Morning Light saga and the second ascent by Royal and Lauria, enough has been written and it is well documented as to the difficulty and the respect the endeavor entailed.

Perhaps someday we will get a chance to meet again, " although I would probably not recognize you."